Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) is a #financial-metric that measures the average cost incurred by a company to acquire a new customer. It is calculated by dividing the total expenses related to sales and marketing over a given period by the number of customers acquired in that same timeframe. CAC is often used alongside metrics such as @Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) to evaluate the efficiency and sustainability of growth strategies. According to industry practice, a healthy business model typically maintains a CAC to CLV ratio of about 1:3, meaning the revenue generated from a customer should significantly exceed the cost of acquiring them. This metric is especially critical for startups and growth-stage companies, as it influences decisions on pricing, fundraising, and scaling strategies. Investors and analysts frequently assess CAC trends to determine whether a business is achieving cost-effective customer growth or overspending relative to its revenue potential. By optimizing acquisition channels and improving conversion rates, companies aim to reduce CAC while maintaining or increasing customer volume.

Contexts

• #startup-lexicon (See: @Startup Glossary)